The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-07-07
Written for Re FIealDiAx.l
Is CNMweship Gm Sicily.

+ C@Mssship I'm Sicily
In the Province of Messina peasant wo-
nan when she thinks the time hascome for her
sister or daughter 10 get married, looks around
lof suitable husband. and having found him
she axis him to come TO her village the. fol-
owing Sunday and look At her'reative ,He,
dressed in his BEST is punctualiy" at his post;
walks mp and down the high road or fame
ss the care may beGand looks AT the ma1den,
who; supported by her chaperoo, looks shyly
back 1t him from over a stone wall or hedge of
6chf'd India. IL they are mutually pleased
with each other, his father calls on her father,
and her marriage portion aud future expecta-
tions Being satisfactory. the young people are
soon married. The day before the wedding a
stmstore (sppraiser) called in who, in the pres
ence of The respective families of the future bride
and groom, assembled at the house of the brides
mother, and in h"i brst bedroom, apprsfses one
by one, each article of the trousseau and the
wedding gifts as they are thrown upon the bed
by the relatives and friends His estimates be-
ing agreed to by all present. he writes them
down and hands the list, when completed, to the
bride. '''
Among the peasants Of the Province of Gaia
MIA courtship is . serious. affair The namorato
calls in the evening at the house of his fair en-
SLAYER sits in the family circle from TWO to three
hours without uttering;. word and looks stead
fastiy at his lady-loye. When his time is up, he
takes from his coat poke, a cake, wrapped up
in clean handkerchief puts it on the table and
retirea. Ifhs cake is not given back to him he
knows his suit is accepted-provided his family
approves OF the girls dot (dower). ..'
10 and near Rome the young men strew rose
leaves before the doors OF their loved ones. man
aging always TO be caught in the act. They
then hide hard by and watch. 1t the rose leaves
are swept away, their hearts are broken; if,
however, the rose leaves are allowed to remain
on the ground or pavement, they are the hap
piesl of men.
At Eastertide in Messina, bashn (pennilessD
sui,ols may send sugar lambs varying in size
from three inches to three feeD, stuffed with
paper AMI decorated with. little red, blue and
green bows 10 the idols Of their soul. When a
lamb is graciOusly received the official offer Of
marriage follows at once.
Among the upper clas>es-th ancient arts
locracy OF the land and The millionares of TO-
day-a mother takes her maj rageabe daughter
to walk n young man finds The maiden pretty
stares at her; follows her to- church and stands
where he may be seen ny both mother and
daughter during the service Mass over, should
the ladies smile ut him, he follows them home,
thus encouraged, and walks up and down the
street under their balcony. La Signorna-as do
all the young girls of the upper ten thousand -
speLd> most of her time on her balcony, to he
seen, loved, married He and she first converse
with tlIs r eyes, then with their hands, and then
rirM cuce from midnight TO 2 a. NJ During heir
nocturnal interviews she. with her parents con-
sen lowers him billetdoux by of u
cord, which he reads with avidiiy al The nearest
lamp post and places, with many demonstra-
tons Of Joy, on his heart. He then ties his
repy-he had the :orethought tn bring it
with him-to the string. which she
draws up and devours best she may.
Then his father, the alliance being 10 his taste,
calls on her father and says: Il will do thus
and so for my son; what will you do for your
daugh,er?n The preliminares being adjusted.
he makes formal demand for the hand Of the
young lady the engagement is announced, and
the young man may now call publicly in the day
time on his betrothed until they married.
A Judge recently told me that he spoke to his
beloved wife for the first time as they stood at
the altar-"ella era ros pura"-(she was so
pure y Your Italian husband, IN future, will
pardon nothing in his wife that maybe; not
even that her dress should be conspicuous, much
less her manners. Neither is il expedient that
she should be seen much in society-the golden
vouth who are ever on the watch might CON-
promise her. A young lady's name must not
be coupled with any mans, even in the lightesl
parlance; less than breath upon a maiden's
name is social death. Nothing can exceed the
stately propriety of these bellies, who never In
dulge in flirting, romping, loud laughter, tell.
tole 0lanceS ar aittinp in cOrners